At Chinaplas 2026 in Shanghai (21–24 April 2026), Coperion will present a broad portfolio of technologies and engineering solutions for plastics processing and recycling. At booth 2.1F98 in hall 2.1, the company will show both single line components and complete process systems. The offering will be presented under the brands Herbold Meckesheim, Coperion K-Tron and Colormax, which enables supplying both compounding solutions and mechanical recycling systems for various plastic waste streams from a single source.
The exhibits will include two high-efficiency twin screw extruders: the ZSK 58 Mc18 and the STS 25 Mc11. They will be complemented by equipment for precise feeding and conveying of materials, including Coperion K-Tron K-ML-SFS-KT20 and K-ML-D5-KT35 twin screw feeders with a 2415 vacuum receiver for refilling ingredients, as well as a K-ML-D5-KS60 single screw feeder. A C/S-LW-NT38 twin screw feeder from Colormax Systems will also be presented. In the area of bulk material conveying, the CVH 550 high-pressure rotary valve and the WEK 265 two-way diverter valve for granules will be on display.
Compounding: high-performance twin screw extruders
For many years Coperion has been developing co-rotating, closely intermeshing twin screw extruder technology. For the first time at Chinaplas, the company will present the ZSK 58 Mc18 extruder in operation, featuring a specific torque of 18 Nm/cm3. The transparent process section of this machine will allow observation of mixing and dispersing phenomena in the screw processing zone, which is important both for recipe optimization and for quality control of the produced compounds.
The ZSK 58 Mc18 extruder achieves throughputs of up to 2,500 kg/h with simultaneously low energy consumption. The machine design focuses on high reliability and durability, which translates into high production availability and a high overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) value. At the booth in Shanghai, the ZSK 58 Mc18 will be shown in combination with a high-accuracy Coperion K-Tron K2-ML-D5-T35 twin screw feeder equipped with the ActiFlow bulk material flow activator for gentle handling of bulk solids.
With its transparent process section, the ZSK 58 Mc18 at booth 2.1F98 in hall 2.1 enables observation of mixing and dispersing behavior inside the twin screw extruder.
The second machine on display will be the STS 25 Mc11 laboratory extruder, the smallest model in the STS series. It features closed, easy-to-clean surfaces and simple operation. Process parameters established on this unit can be reliably transferred to larger extruders in the STS series, making the STS 25 Mc11 a suitable tool for recipe development and optimization. At the booth, the machine will be presented together with a Coperion K-Tron K-ML-SFS-KT20 twin screw feeder.
The portfolio also includes the STS 96 extruder in the STS Mc Plus configuration. This unit reaches a maximum specific Md/a³ torque of 13.6 Nm/cm³, enabling up to 20% higher throughput in various applications. The higher fill level in the process section and lower shear stress during compounding contribute to improved final product quality.
Alongside the ZSK and STS series, Coperion also offers CTE twin screw extruders designed for Asian and other emerging markets, where the relationship between investment cost and line performance is a key criterion.
Plastics recycling: complete lines and PET systems
Following the merger with Herbold Meckesheim, Coperion is developing comprehensive process solutions for plastics recycling. Both companies are intensively aligning their technologies so that complete recycling lines offer high operating efficiency from feedstock preparation through to extrusion and pelletizing of recyclate. At Chinaplas 2026, Coperion and Herbold Meckesheim will present a virtual recycling line. Visitors to booth 2.1F98 in hall 2.1 will be able to look inside key elements of the installation and follow the course of individual process stages, as well as learn about the operating characteristics of each component.
In Shanghai, Coperion will also introduce a new standardized system for PET recycling. This solution is designed for the production of PET recompounds with throughputs from 500 kg/h up to 10 t/h and is intended to ensure high product quality at an attractive price-to-performance ratio. The system can be configured for different applications, including bottle-to-bottle, bottle-to-sheet, bottle-to-fiber and PET tray recycling. For applications requiring direct contact of the produced PET recompounds with food, the recycling lines can be combined with a solid state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. This configuration makes it possible to meet EFSA or FDA approval requirements for the safety of materials intended for food contact.
High-quality PET recompounds can be manufactured at an attractive price-to-performance ratio using Coperion's new PET recycling solutions
Feeding and conveying: the right amount of material at the right time
Coperion offers a wide range of solutions for precise feeding and conveying of bulk solids and process liquids. The portfolio includes screw conveyors, vibratory feeders, bulk solids pumps, weigh belt feeders and liquid feeders, as well as flow metering devices. Each feeder type is available in multiple configurations and can be combined into systems tailored to specific application requirements.
At Chinaplas 2026, single screw feeders for free-flowing granules and powders and twin screw feeders for powders and poorly flowing additives will be presented. In particular, the Coperion K-Tron K-ML-D5-KT35 twin screw feeder will be shown. It is equipped with the ActiFlow flow activation system designed for materials that are difficult to handle due to poor flowability.
ActiFlow is a solution without product-contact parts that prevents bridging of poorly flowing materials in loss-in-weight feeders, which results in stable dosing processes. Coperion also offers a broad range of vacuum conveying systems, including 2400 series vacuum conveyors and receivers. These units enable high-capacity conveying of free-flowing, dry bulk materials, for example for filling buffer hoppers or refilling gravimetric feeders.
Service and support: maintaining high line availability
Coperion aims to maintain high availability of its installed technologies throughout their entire life cycle, reduce downtime risk and ensure long-term process efficiency. The company has a global network of experienced process and development engineers, enabling service support for lines installed worldwide. Short response times to service requests and knowledge of local operating conditions allow users to benefit from solutions adapted to the specific requirements of their production facilities.
The high-accuracy Coperion K-Tron K-ML-D5-KT35 feeder is equipped with ActiFlow bulk solid activation which handles product gently – suitable for reliably introducing additives.
